The Great Prairie Race 2024
The Goal
For youth to connect by learning about each other’s communities through fitness and a virtual meeting.
Throughout the month of February, classes and/or whole schools from across the prairie provinces (AB, SK, MB) are invited to get in motion and see how far they can move as a combined effort. For example, participants can choose to walk, run, wheel, skate, snowshoe or cross-country ski. Each time they move, they keep track of their distance covered and add it up as a group.
In 2023, 27 schools participated and tallied their distances moved for a combined total of 15,356 km!
Sign up and invite another community to join the challenge! The more communities the better!
2024 Complete!
Thank you to all who participated and to the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames for their support and for donating the tickets.
We Crossed the Finish Line
20+ Schools
60+ Classes
9138 kms Moved
Congratulations to the following winners of the classroom pizza and ice cream parties and to their teachers who won two tickets to an NHL game!
Gr. 8 Class, Muskowekwan School - Ms. Asapace, Muskowekwan FN, SK
Gr. 1 Class, Henry Braun School - Ms. Matechuk, Regina, SK
Gr. 3/4 Sturgis Composite School - Ms. Olson, Sturgis, SK
2024 Participating Schools
AB/MB Schools:
École St Germain, Winnipeg, MB Dr. Probe Elementary School, Lethbridge, AB St. Theresa of Calcutta Elementary School, Lethbridge, AB Lakeside Outreach School, Slave Lake, AB Westview School, Stony Plain, ABSK Schools:
St. Nicholas Catholic School, Saskatoon Tisdale Middle & Secondary School, Tisdale St. Frances Cree Bilingual School St. Gabriel School, Biggar Wadena Elementary School, Wadena Lake Lenore School, Lake Lenore Glaslyn Central School, Glaslyn Muskowekwan School, Muskowekwan First Nation Henry Braun School, Regina St. Angela School, Saskatoon Sturgis Elementary School, Sturgis Bert Fox Community School, Fort Qu’Appelle Ecole Lumsden, Lumsden St. Augustine School, Humboldt Humboldt Collegiate Institute, Humboldt St. Dominic School, Humboldt
Accepting The Challenge Means
- Map out a 1 km walk in your community or schoolyard or calculate how many laps around a gym = 1 km
- Keep track of the distance moved and submit it twice to info@northernlightsmovementforkids.ca:
- On or before February 14, 2024 (Valentine’s Day) and
- On or before February 28, 2024
- The communities meet and interact virtually at the beginning and end of the challenge on Thursday, February 29 at 11:00 a.m. (SK/MB time) and10:00 a.m. (AB time).
- Each class/school will select two student representatives to share about their community (see below) during the virtual meetings.
- Teachers who register their class and submit the distance moved on or before Valentine’s Day for proof of participation will automatically be entered in 3 draws for a chance to win 2 tickets to one of three NHL games on the prairies in March, 2024 (Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets) and a Pizza and Ice Cream party for your class! ‘
This is a great opportunity to be physically active, meet new friends, and learn about each other!
At The End of The Journey
Meet virtually to say “hello” and learn about each other by answering or sharing the information from the questions below:
- On what Treaty territory do you live?
- What is the population of your community?
- What is the population of your school?
- What are some of the most popular, healthy pastimes for youth in your community?
- What are special traditions that take place in your community?
- Name 1 or more admirable and positive role models that live or have lived in your community? Why are they admired?
During the Challenge
Thursday, February 1:
- The Great Prairie Race Begins
- Virtual Meet #1
Wednesday, February 14:
- Valentine’s Day
- Submit Your KMs for a Chance to Win
- Jacob Leicht’s Birthday
Wednesday, February 28:
- Great Prairie Race Ends
- Submit Your KMs
Thursday, February 29:
- Virtual Meet #2
- Winners Will Be Drawn
You Can Win! And So Can Your Class
Register your class here for a chance to win!
- 2 tickets to one of three NHL games on the prairies!
(Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers) - Pizza and Ice Cream Party for your class!
See “Accepting The Challenge Means” Section
Our Chant
The Great Prairie Race!
We walk to a place
To learn about each other
Be friends with one another.
Under the same sky, what do you see?
The Northern Lights shining down on me!
The Great Prairie Race!
The Great Prairie Race!
Share Your Success
We want to hear from you! Share your journey, distance travelled, and connections made along the way. You can email us photos or share them on social media using the hashtag below.
#greatprairierace
